Oscillating light signal device



J. D. KENNELLY 2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHT SIGNAL DEVICE March 25, 1947.

Filed Jan. 1, 1945 3 sneetsa-sneet 1 Mar-Ch 25, 1947- J. D. KENNELLY2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHTk SIGNAL DEVICE FledJan. 1, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March25, 1947. J D, KENNELLY 2,417,934

OSCILLATING LIGHT SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Jan. l, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented Mar. 25, l1947 i UNITEDSTATEs'PATENT o1=Flc'Eg Jeremiahn.Kenneuy, oak Park, n1.

Application January 1, 1945, Serial No. 570,946

This invention relates to signal devices andv more particularly tosignal way cars. It has heretofore been proposed to provide a signaldevice for a railway locomotive or other railway cars in which twoselectively operable light sources are provided. Normally one of thelight sources is a White light utilized during running while the otheris a red colored light which may be utilized to signal approachingtrains or for other signal purpo-ses. Preferably the light sources areadapted to be moved to provide an oscillating beam which is more clearlyvisible than a stationary beam. One construction of this character ismore particularly illustrated and described in my copending application,Serial No. 541,561 filed June 22, 1944.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a signaldevice of the type referred to above which is relatively simple andinexpensive lights for use lon railto manufacture and yet which willperform the desired signalling operations.

Another object is to provide a signal device in which the normal runninglight of the railway loco-motive or car is interrupted when the coloredbeam of the signal device is operated.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be morereadily apparent from the following description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is an axial sectionthru a signal device embodying the invention with parts in elevation;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram.

The control device as illustrated comprises a main frame I which isgenerally U-shaped and which is connected at one end to a rin-g IIsupporting an annular reiiector I2 formed with a central opening thruwhich a beam of light may be projected. The main frame is preferablycovered by a housing i3 tting against the ring II as shown and securedby a screw I4 to the rearward end of the main frame. The frame and coverare adapted to be xedly mounted in a railway car such as a locomotive.It will be understood that the reflector I2 may be covered by a suitableglazed cover or lens as desired.

A subframe I5 in the form of a strap bent aroundand with its endsconnected together is pivotally mounted in the main frame on opposed 5Claims. (Cl. 177-329)v A2 Y pivots I6 and I1 which -dene an axisltransverse to the length of the main frame. Within the subframe I5 alamp support I8 is mounted on pivots I9 lying on an axis transverse tothe axis of the pivots I6 and I 1. The subframe as shown, may be in theform of a cylindrical sheet metal member out away at one side and havinga reinforcing strap 2l thereon to which the pivots I9 are connected.

A pair of electric lamps 22 and 23 are supported in the support I8facing toward the opposite ends thereof and lying within reectors 24.The lamp 23 is adapted to project a beam having a distinctive color suchas red and for this pur--y pose a tinted transparent cover 25 may be secured over its reflector 24.

The position of the main frame and the support are controlled thru amechanism which is car ried by a plate 25 secured to a shaft 21 which iscoaxial with the pivot l1. A worm gear 2B is connected to the shaft 21and meshes with awormv ,29 on a shaft 3| which is driven by a motor 32gear box 38 from which two cranks 39'and 4I are operated. The crank 39is connected thru a Alink 42 to a bracket 43 secured to subframe I5 sothat as the crank 39 turns the subframe will be oscillated about thepivots I 5 and I 1. The crank 4I is 'similarly connected thru a link 44to a bracket extension 45 on the support I 8 so that as the crank 4lturns the support will be oscillated about the pivots I9. By properlyadjusting the throws of the cranks 39 and 4I any desired motion of thesupport can be produced such as the figure eight movement normallyemployed in signal devices of this character.

As shown in Figure 4, the reversible motor 32 is controlled by a relay46 which operates a plurality of switch blades 41, 48, 49 and 5I. Therelay may be spring biased or otherwise normally urged to the positionshown in Figure 4 and when energized will move the several switch bladesto the right.

The switch blade 41 is adapted to engage a contact 52 -Which isconnected thru the limit switch 34 to the motor 32 and a contact 53which is connected to one side of either the armature or eld winding ofthe motor. The other side of the winding to which contact 53 isconnected connects to a contact 54 adapted to be engaged by the switchblade 48 which connects it to a contact 55. The contact 55 is connectedto the lamp 23 and thru a wire 56 to a switch segment 51 on a mastercontrol switch.

The switch blade 49 engages a contact 58 which is connected thru thelimit switch'35 to the motor and a contact 59 which is cross connectedto the contact 54 as shown. The switch blade 5I engages a contact 6lwhich is cross connected to n the contact 53 and a contact 62 which isconnected thru a wire S3 to the lamp 22 and to a segment 64 on the maincontrol switch. The relay 46 is connected to the wire 53 and to a commonpower lead 65 leading to any available source of direct current. Thelead B5 is also connected thru a wire 66 to the motor 32 as shown andthru a. wire 61 to the motor 31. The other side-of motor 31 is connectedthru awire 58 and a pair of control switches 53 and 15 to the otherpower lead 1l. One ofthe switches 65er 15 may be of the type which willremain closed when closed Ato provide continuous operation of the motor31 while the other may be a push-button type-switch to provide formanual jogging operation of the motor to turn the support slowly to anydesired position.

The power lead 1| is connected to a wiper arm 12 adapted to engageeither the segment 51 or the segment 64. Preferably an additional seg-'-ment 13 lis provided connected thru a resistance 14 to the segment E4 todim the lamp 22 when desired.

The normal running light for the railway cars such as the locomotiveheadlight is indicated at 15 supplied with current from a generator 15driven by a motor 11. The motor11 is supplied with current thru a switch18 and thru a dimming switch 19 having a resistance 8l in shunttherewith and a manual control switch 82. With all of the switchesclosed the motor 11 will operate at relatively high speed to supplymaximum voltage to theheadlight 15 while with the dimming switch 19opened the resistance 8l will be placed in cir cuit to cause the Imotor11 to operate more slowly and deliver a smaller voltage to thevheadlight 15.

The switch 18 is normally closed and is adapted to be opened by asolenoid 83 connected across the wires 55 and 56. When the arm 12engagesthe segment 61 to energize the lamp 23 the solenoid 83 willsimultaneously be energized to interrupt the headlight 15 so that thecolored danger signal will be more readily visible.

In operation for normal running the switch arm 12 is moved intoengagement with one ofthe contacts E4 or 13 to energize the lamp 22 andto turn the'motor 32 to bring the lamp 22 into register with thereflector I2. When the gear 28 reaches the proper position forregistration of the lamp 22 with the reflector opening the limit switch35 will be opened to interrupt operation ofthe motor 32. It will beunderstood that the motor 31 may be operated if desired to produce anoscillating light beam at this time.

In the event the train should become stopped on a track or it is desiredto indicate a danger signal for some other reason, the arm 12 isvmovedinto engagement with` the contact 51. The lamp 23 is energized at thistime and the motor 32 is operated in the opposite direction due toreversal of current thru the contacts 53 and 54 caused bygoperationof.the.l switch contacts41 and 48.

4 It will be noted that when the wiper 12 is moved out of contact withboth contacts 64 and 13 the relay 4B will be de-energized to allow theswitch blades to move to the left into the position shown. At this timethe motor 32 will operate in the reverse direction to turn the plate 2Sthru 180.

Thru the connecting'links 42 and 44 this will turn the subframe l5 thru180 to bring the lamp 23 into register with the opening in the reflectorI2 to project a colored light beam therethru. When the gear 28 reaches aposition in which the lamp 23 registers with the reflector opening thelimit switch 34 will be opened to cie-energize the motor 32. The 'motor31 may be operated as desired, at this time by closing one or the otherof the switches 69 or 10 to cause the light beam to oscillate. At thesame time the main headlight will be interrupted to make the dangersignal more readily visible.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described indetail herein, it will be understood that. this is illustrative only andis not intended as a definition of the scope of the inventiony referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is: y

l. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car orthe like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam may project,a subframe pivoted 0n the casing, an elongated support pivoted on thesubframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis' of the subrame, a.pair of light Sources for projecting visibly diierent rays of lightcarried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, a platemounted for pivotal movement about an axis coincident with the axis ofthe subframe, means to turn the plate about its axis, a pair of crankscarried by the plate, means on the plate to turn the cranks, andmeansconnecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the .support tooscillate them about their axes.

2` A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a caror` the like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam mayproject, a subframe pivoted on the casing, an elongated support pivotedon the subframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis of thesubframe, a, pair of light sources for projecting visibly'diderent raysof light carried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, aplate mounted for pivotal movement about an .axis coincident with theaxis of the subirame, means to turn the plate about its axis, a motorcarried by the plate, a pair ci cranks driven by the motor, and linksconnecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the support torock them about their axes.

3. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car orthe like and formed with an opening thru which a light beam may projecta subfrarne pivoted on the casing, an elongated support pivoted o-n thesubframe on an axis transverse to the pivotal axis of the subframe, apair of light sources for projecting visibly diierent rays of lightcarried by the support at opposite ends thereof respectively, a platemounted for pivotal movement about an axis coincident with the axis ofthe subframe, means to turn the plate about its axis, a pair ofcrankscarried by the plate, means on the plate to turn the cranks, meansconnecting the cranks respectively to the subframe and the support tooscillate them about their axes, and control means simultaneously tooperate the means to turn the plate about its axis and to energize thelight source which is in register With the opening in the casing.

4. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car orthe like and formed at one end with an opening thru which a light beammay project, a hollow subframe rotatably mounted on the casing o-n anaxis transverse to the length of the main frame, a support pivoted onthe subframe on an axis transverse to the subframe axis, a pair oflight; sources for projecting visibly dierent rays of light carried bythe support at its opposite ends, a plate rotatably mounted on the mainframe on an axis coincident with the subframe axis, a pair of cranksdriven by the motor, means connecting the cranks respectively to thesub-frame and the support to rook them about their axes, and means toturn the plate about its axis to reverse the subframe and sup-portwhereby a selected one of the sources will register with the opening inthe casing.

5. A signal device comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on a car orthe like and formed at one end with an opening thru which alight beammay project, a hollow subframe rotatably mounted on the casing on anaxis transverse to the length of the main frame, a support pivoted onthe subfrarne on an axis transverse to the subframe axis, a pair oflight sources for projecting visibly differentrays of light carried bythe support at its opposite ends, a plate rotatably mounted on thecasing on an axis coincident with the subframe axis, a motor carried bythe plate, a pair of cranks driven by the motor, lmeans con necting thecranks respectively to the subframe and the support to rock them abouttheir axes, a gear connected to the plate, a Worm meshing with the gear,a reversible motor for driving the worm, limit switches connected to themotor to interrupt operation thereof, means movable with the gear tocontrol the limit switches, and control means for controlling the motorto turn the plate in one direction or the other.

J EREMIAH D. KENNELLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,845,399 Cleninger Feb. 16, 19322,123,435 Peill et a1 July 12, 1938 2,221,483 Kennelly Nov. 12, 19402,262,239 Kennelly Nov. 11, 1941 1,283,933 Udell Nov. 5, 1918

